Radio 2 sing-a-long will be part of Castletown jubilee street party
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
PEOPLE in Castletown will be taking part in a sing-a-long for a Radio 2 show as part of the national celebrations for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
They will join millions across the UK in the event which is being organised for the Zoe Ball show on BBC Radio 2.
The singing of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline will be part of the Castletown street party which is being held in the village on Saturday from noon to 3pm to celebrate the Queen's 70 years on the throne.
The sing-a-long will be filmed and sent to the radio team which plans to create a video montage of the various sing-a-longs across the nation for social media. They hope to get 10 million people to join in the event.
The Castletown sing-a-long will get underway around 2pm but events kick off at noon with the Thurso Pipe Band opening the various activities which will take place in an area between the Drill Hall and the Youth Club.
That part of the Main Street will be closed while the party is being held.
Music will also be provided by local artists, Fern Strachan and Anthony McPhee as well as the Pentland Junior Brass Band. There will be a display by the Caithness Gymnastics team along with kids' races and a tug o' war led by Issy Currie.
Alice Calder Hill, who is the oldest local person in the village, will plant a tree at 12.30pm to mark the unique occasion.
Caithness FM will be in attendance during the afternoon and there will be various free events including a Bucking Bronco, face painting, children's games with prizes and afternoon teas and cakes. In addition, there will be burger and ice cream vans on the street.
At night there will be a pub quiz in the Castletown Hotel with live music from Nancy Foggo.
Speaking on behalf of the Castletown Jubilee Committee, Penny Gunn said: "We are delighted to be hosting our own Platinum Jubilee celebration day in the village and we are very excited to be part of this one off national event. We are also very excited to have been invited to take part in the BBC Radio 2 Sweet Caroline sing-a-long and we hope that all ages will take part and have fun. The event will be recorded for Radio 2 and their website. Along with all the free fun events we have organised, we are amazed at the support shown from the Castletown Primary School who all made personalised bunting from re-cycled material to go on display on Saturday. They each made their own designed triangle. Their creativity has been amazing and we are very grateful to the school and local children for their support.
The Gateway café have also knitted bunting for it."
The Castletown and District Community Council provided £300 towards the cost of staging the party while the Castletown Gala Committee and the Castletown Community Project (the play park) also gave a donation to help fund it.
The following afternoon (June 5) a jubilee party will be held in the gardens of the Castlehill Heritage Centre.
The event, being staged by the Castletown Heritage Society, will take place in the courtyard which will be filled with colourful plants and flowers.
The party is being staged between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
